I have to rave about DOMINIQUE’S work!

I sent her over a copy of my upcoming book, Pride Before a Fall, for a final once-over before the ARC release. Dominique was incredibly thorough, even taking the time to double back and ensure that her comments were consistent. She even went ahead and read the first book, 9 Years Yearning, without prompting so that she was fully caught up.

What I especially appreciated about Dominique's comments was her ability to offer solutions that strengthen my voice rather than change it.

To improve the flow of this sentence, consider removing the “at least,” as readers tend to pause before and after a quantifier (they read them as if they are surrounded on both sides by a comma, regardless of whether this is actually the case; “[…], at least, […].”) Without the quantifier, the sentence is more streamlined! “Surely they’d do something if he threw them in the bathwater.” (Quotation from Side-Bar Comments)

Her suggestions considered both my narrative vision and readers' needs. As writers, it's so easy for us to get caught up in what we want our text to look like without thinking of our readers, but Dominique seamlessly bridged the gap between my intention and an audience's experience.

I loved her reactions to the writing, as this is so helpful for knowing what potential readers may find intriguing. These small comments can be quite the ego boost, and I was glad that she sprinkled them in with her thoughtful critique.

She also caught inconsistencies that I hadn't even considered, explaining in depth while they may throw readers off without dictating what I could do. This is just one example of her methodical approach:

I may be wrong, but this is the first time I believe the reader hears of Orrinir and Cerie having a hay allergy. This may feel jarring to the reader as there have been numerous passages before this one where both Orrinir and Cerie have been in close proximity to hay without displaying any kind of allergic reaction. To incorporate this information in the text in a way that avoids any confusion on the reader’s part, consider introducing it earlier on in the text. (Quotation from Side-Bar Comments)

At times, I can get a bit too ornate and experimental, but Dominique gently brought me back down to earth, ensuring that I didn't leave my readers confused.

From her comments, I could tell that she had thoroughly pondered every single word and its total impact on the text. It's rare to find an editor with such a keen eye and a true appreciation for their client's work. Her work felt much like a dedicated seamstress gently mending any tears in a tapestry, ensuring it shines just as the creator intended.

I'm deeply grateful for her help in sprucing up Pride Before a Fall right in time for its ARC release, and I strongly encourage you giving her services a try!